TURKEY IN TURMOIL
A major political crisis is brewing in Turkey. On April 27th, the Turkish General Staff issued a demarche to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the wake of the Turkish parliament’s first round of voting in the presidential election, in which the AKP’s candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, had stood uncontested. The Turkish military’s statement, posted on its website, warned that “[i]t should not be forgotten that the Turkish armed forces are a side in this debate and are a staunch defender of secularism” and cautioned that "[w]hen necessary, it will display its attitudes and actions very clearly.”
The Turkish military’s warning touched off a fierce national debate over the country’s future political direction, complete with large-scale pro-secularism protests in a number of Turkish cities. The AKP has responded with an attempt to defuse (or at least delay) the crisis, pushing the presidential elections forward to July 22nd, the same date as national parliamentary elections. However, it has also attempted to tilt the political playing field in its favor, putting forth a parliamentary measure that – if approved by current president Ahmet Necdet Sezer – would allow the direct election to the presidency by popular vote. For their part, Turkey’s various opposition parties are beginning to organize in a bid to oust the AKP from power. (Washington Times, April 30, 2007; Associated Press, May 7, 2007; Ankara Turkish Daily News, April 27 and May 10, 2007)
PALESTINIAN RADICALISM GOES GLOBAL
An uptick in militant activity in the Gaza Strip suggests that al-Qaeda could finally be making serious inroads into the Palestinian Territories. Israeli observers fear that the deteriorating economic, political and security conditions in Gaza may be blurring the line between al Qaeda’s global jihadis and locally-focused militants. So far, Palestinian activists and politicians have denied any links with the terror network, but websites linked to the terrorist group claim cells already have been established in Jenin and Nablus. At the same time, Israeli officials say, Iran has penetrated deeper into the Palestinian Territories as well – raising the specter of increased coordination between Sunni and Shi’a militants. (Christian Science Monitor, May 11, 2007)
A FACE-OFF IN CAIRO
Egypt’s judiciary has taken a rare stand against a decision by the country’s powerful president to try 39 members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood in a military tribunal. The court, in its dissent against President Hosni Mubarak, argued that he had charged the Brothers with terrorism and money laundering before recent changes to the constitution expanding the executive’s powers to establish military tribunals. Ostensibly, the court’s ruling is binding and immediate. However, observers point out that the Egyptian government has ignored court orders involving political opponents in the past. "Will the government carry out the ruling, or will it as usual procrastinate? That's the question that everyone's waiting to have answered," a lawyer for the accused Muslim Brotherhood members has said. (Doha Al-Jazeera, May 8, 2008)
ISRAEL REFOCUSES ON LAND FORCES
Despite being elevated to the status of a separate military branch last year, the less-than-stellar performance of Israel’s Land Forces Command in last year’s war with Hezbollah has showcased that it is a “hollow force” – and prompted a new military focus among Israeli defense planners. Like the U.S. military after Vietnam, observers say the Israeli Defense Forces are now working to reverse years of funding cuts and force reductions to its land capabilities, as well as reassessing operational concepts and instituting organizational changes. “My work plan for 2007 defines nine specific goals, and driving this plan are the top three priorities: people, readiness and equipment modernization,” says Maj.-Gen. Benjamin Gantz of the IDF’s Land Forces Headquarters. “My first shekel will be invested in people; my second shekel will be invested in readiness, and if I have a third shekel, I’ll put that into equipment.” (Defense News, May 7, 2007)